Display sign control mechanism



Feb. 13,1940. s'r. GEORGE LAF'ITTE 2,189,911

DISPLAY SIGN CONTROL MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1938 INVENTOR 400 15 SZGEOFGE LAF/TTE ATTORNEY 2 DISPLAY SIGN CONTROL MECHANISM .IIIIHHIH.

' INVENTOR SIGEORGE LAP/77E o I 2 BY ATTORNEY Flea;

1.940- s'r. GEORGE LAFITTE 2,189,911

DISPLAY SIGN CONTROL MECHANiSM Filed Dec. 9; 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR I I arse-mas L/IF/TTE ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 13, 1940 ITED;5151x1 3 S3; ATEN OFFICE 7 a f g msr AYsr'enoon rnonlimonanrsm Sh-George L afitteQSumrnit, N.-Jl, assignor to;

;Federall Telegraph companypNewark N. J., a

l e w ee qeli q e, a Application Decembeii 9, 1938, Serial No'. 244,798 I or, i it l i f @9 olei s.,'(o1:. 40 ;3s) k p,

My invention relates to display devices and" my invention showin g the latchingand tripping more particularly to" improvements in sign meek-' mechanism in one position. I anis'msand' controlarrangements for advancing Fig.3 is a plan view partly in section and sequentially a series of units around a closed} i bro n away of the m 'cdimentof mvinventi n 5 conveyor circuit. i i l v Ina known form of conveyor system a pl closure mechanism are in their alternative posiity ofseparate units are carried around a closed tions 3 v l circuit one at a time. When each unit has almost i F g.2! illustrates" in p an view a Section of completed thecircuit the conveyor chain'r'elea ses' Cha s and afl fl v ymf e ment for use the i 0 the unit and the latter is advanced fro in this arrangementillustratedinFigs. 2 and}, and 10 point to a point from which it is again picked up Figzfiis a side elevation of Fig. 4. for another circuit around the conveyor, by means Turning-now to l y eprese ts a chain of suitable pusher elements operating with alpawl 1' i hi h attached e t and ratchet movement; indicated 'at' 12. This conveyor element is pro- I It is an object of my invention to provideliei v iwithapr je ti n 3 whi h is adapted to suitable latching and escapement mechanism for a e n therewith, 0 6 a plurality of controlling conveyor units of the type mentioned units Each of thee units We ler and releasing them for travel around a circuit. PY, yP of tmi t which, 15 Q rm 9 In the usual forms or display devices utilizing i q d f q d v y r q f to example a conveyor of the type outlinedabove; only one h E WW Deformed hee elz h 0 display window may be provided without a eon-1 m g Pdfm h Y h d to f i siderable complication of the control mechanism" t p 'vy tl i" mg posters are u i and increase in power for driving the arrange- W M PP Wht i so as to s lll n e ment. By means of a control arrangementin gig-gagi g? T $$A g E ZQ 5 accordance with m inventiondis 1a ost'e'rs i v i may be simultaneou s ly shown on appl ra iity of l? gi i elgmfint I stantial increase in power and with buta silnpl i a l latcharra'ngement 20 and the push latch mechamsmllrdmimy r i lever-assembly 40, are cooperatively linked to-- g disclosed in r Aain whichthelatching; and a 0 singledisplay. v t. M l v H v, t n e n l i getherbymeansofa connecting llnk 50. Lever acqord-ance Wlth anqther feature y 42 isfpivoted'at fixedpivot 43 and at itsfar end Yeniwn n conveyor earned by chalin iltselllflpush lever or pawl" 41 is pivoted thereto. A serves trip release mechanistim to releaselthg tension spring '44 is provided to maintain lever succeeding unit for travel around the elrcult,; i'v6 u w r y b that the mand l e QDerates means to advance pusher pawl of lever 4l will'be' maintained in propen'position mechamsmso as to advance the OthBrllllltS along; touontactuwith a 1 A latching arm the circuit over a P01110111 or the circuit not trav -,a x p ot 45 n tensionedpy a; mu ersed by the carrying chain or belt. able spring 41', e'xtendsoutwardly into the path 0 In accordance with another featurewof my, 111-. 6f l 'zgp mgi nit, In, as shown "in the vention, I provide a track for ui ing-the; 0 are, 'ings. Springs 44 a d are relatively light veyor units over portions of the circuit in advance t at l 4 nd. 1atch1ng"arm 5 i a be of the pulleys or sprocket wheels so that any, e ye p r gt the path I looseness in the driving belt or chain willtnot' itg'im fil' i' roller fi d b o 19. interfere with the positive action of the device," m' fit 5, 51 l m t b s g' 'h push v f 5- and the strain of operating the mechanism is not latch assemblyf-Link 5fl is pivoted on lever 42 carried by the belt or chain of the conveyors at a point'intermediate fixed pivot 43and-1ever Other objects of my invention will become 41', so thatin -the solid line position the long arm clearlfrom a complete consideration of the dof-lever: 42 moved toward the'ri'ght; as fic D scription made in'connectiontwith the accom' inthe -figureandin thed'otted line position the panying drawings, in which z i long arm-10f lever -42 ismovedYto the'leftn Fig. 1 shows a schematic arrangement of a 'con-f When link 50 is moved to the left; the toggle veyor system'in accordance with my 'invention,'. latch assembly is also moved into the solid line" Fig. Zillustrates partly insection and 'partly. position-"assli'owninFig. 1. This assembly corn 5 broken away, a display device'in accordance with prises the pivotd lever 22 *to whichata"point es'y 5,5,; end 28 out of the path of the units I0. Projecintermediate its ends is pivoted link 50. A toggle link 23 is pivoted at a fixed point intermediate the two positions of arm 22 and is provided with a compression spring 24, so that lever 22 upon passing the center of its rotation will tend to immediately occupy either of two positions, as shown in the solid lines or the dotted lines, Fig. 1. Lever 22 carries pivoted thereto a vertically movable stop member 25. In the posie tion shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, stop member 25 is Withdrawn from its latching relationshipwith respectto the units II). The latching mem ber 2|, is pivoted at a fixed point 26 and is provided at one end with a sliding connection 21, so

that the projecting latching end 28 of lever 2| is moved into or out of the path of the units It in accordance with the position of stop member 25. As shown in the solid lines of Fig. 1, the auxiliary latching member or stop 2| is in its raised position and accordingly the projecting end 28 of latching member 2| is protrudinginto the path of unit I0, so that these elementsare maintained in fixed position between latching element 2| and push lever 4|. I

In the'solid line position conveyor element I2 at its position just before it passes control lever 42. As the chain or" belt continues to progress, conveyor element l2 iscarried around thereby and the associated carrier unit I is carried alon with it. When the conveyor element I2 reaches a position so that the carrierunit I0 is disposed immediately above the latching arm 45, the chain or belt moves away from the unit so that projection I3 no longer cooperates therewith and the unit is left in this position. Latching arm 45 projects into the opening in unit I0 to hold it in position during later return orratchet movement of pushlever 4|.

The conveyor element I2 continues on around units. As soon as lever 22 reaches a point slightly past itsdead center, spring 24 serves to, fo rce it completely into its dotted line position, moving link 50 to the right and rocking control lever 42 to the left, into its dotted line position as shown in Fig. 1. The outward movement of stop member 25 rocks latching arm 2| moving its latching tion I3 on conveyor element I2 contactswith'the forward one of the units I0 so thatthiselement is picked up for travel around the circuit.

The movement of control lever 42 to the left withdraws push lever 4| to the right so that the pusher end of this lever is located at a point just beyond the outer edge ofthe carrier uniti I0 which has most recently been deposited at this point. During the movement of push lever 4| to the right the'latching arm 45 serves to holdthe outer unit I0 from being dragged back with the push lever.

As conveyor element I2" continues further around the circuit it finally reaches. a position such that roller I is brought to bear against the end of control lever 42 serving to again force this lever toward the right. Control lever 42 -upon moving pushes on link 50 rocking lever 22 back and when it has moved a sufiicient distance to rock lever 22 again; to a position beyond dead a particular circuit.

center, toggle link arm 23 and compression spring 24 serve to suddenly rock lever 22 to its solid line position, moving lever 42 to its extreme right hand position, advancing push lever 4i towards the left and simultaneously withdrawing stop member 25 from its holding position in the unit I0 and operating latching member 2| to position so that its projecting end 28 is again positioned in the path of these units II). In this position the apparatus is returnedto the solidline position of Fig. 1. The cycle is then repeated, thus in turn carrying each of the units It around the circuit in succession.

Itis evident that the arrangement of my in- 1 vention may be utilized for any system in which it is desired to successively carry elements around One particular application of the system is for the use of interchangeable display signs such as are used commonly for displaying advertising matter. In such a system each of the units I0 may be so arranged that an advertising display folder is attached to the leading edge thereof. Thus as each of the elements is removed from its rest position a new advertising sign display is presented to view and the one previously removed is returned around the circuit to be again shown in its turn.

It is evident that with an arrangement such as shown in Fig. 1 by providing similar control and latching arrangements about two or more faces of the display arrangement, each of the faces may be used to simultaneously display separate signs. In the arrangement as one unit is removed from the chain adjacent one face'it is deposited in the group adjacent another face of the device and a unit on the far end of the group adjacent this second face is then removed to the succeeding face of the system and so on around the circuit.

In Figs. 2 and 3 is illustrated a preferred form of my invention applied to a display sign in which two faces of the sign are utilized for display purposes. In these figures the various parts cor responding to those shown in Fig. I carry corresponding reference characters.

The display sign structure comprises the plate or base elements I00, the metallic end walls I0! and the transparent display faces I02-I03. Mounted on' shafts. supported between the base plates" I00 are provided sprocket wheels I05 for driving the chain Connected at one point in the chain is provided the conveyor element I2. The particular construction of this conveyor element may be more clearly seen by reference to Figs. 4 and 5 which illustrate a portion of the sprocket chain and the carrier mechanism. The chain is composed of a plurality of links 400 and fastened between two of these links are provided the carrier elements I2 having a projecting conveyor portion It. On a pin 40I projecting through the elements I2 are mounted the rollers I5 and this pin 40| also serves as a connection for one of the links 400. On the other end of conveyor elements I2 is provided a second pin 402 which serves as a means for connecting the other links 400 of the sprocket chain to the carrier elements; The sprocket chain II is driven around its closed circuit by means of the sprocket wheels I05.

The carrier units I0, each of channel shape, are carried around the circuit by means of the conveyor elements I2, the ends of the units maintained in the groove III) are provided in base plate I00 and a similar groove in the upper cover plate, not shown. It should be understood that similar-latching mechanisms may be provided position.

near the top and bottom of the carrier units l0, conveyor element. llllso that the chain may not to properly control these elements. In the posi-: tion shown in Fig; 2 the carrier units I "which: are, positioned to display signs through the face I02 of the display device are retainedin their fixed position between latching elements 2| of the.

toggle latch assembly and push lever 4| of the push latch assembly. In this position toggle link 23 is moved to its extreme left position and the control lever 42 is moved to its position to the right. At the same time the control levers 42' for controlling the conveyor units on the front surface of the displaydevice Bare in a corresponding position as can be seen in part by reference to control levers 42 and the associated push levers 4|, connecting link 50 and latching lever 45'.

Conveyor element I2is just passing the control lever 42 preparatory to depositing conveyor unit I0 at a point justback of push lever 4|.

In order to control the movement of -theauxiliary latching member 25, I provide a plate I I with a slot H6 therein through which pin I30v carried by member may be guided. Pin I also serves as a guide for the sliding connection 27 provided on lever2l. 1

As conveyor element l2 proceeds around the circuit it operates the togglelatch assembly associated with the face I03 of the display device to force control lever 42' to the right, releasing another carrier unit I0 which is then carried to and deposited at a point immediately adjacent the units held by push lever 4|. Proceeding further, conveyor element l2 reaches a point at which projection |3 enters-the channel Ofcarrier unit I!) adjacent stop element 2|. Simultaneously roller. |5 contacts projection130 on lever 22 rocking lever 2| to release end unit- I0,

moving auxiliary latching member 25- downwardly into the channel opening of succeeding unit l0 and returning push lever 4| to theleftl into the position illustrated in Fig. 3. i

As shown in Fig. 3, control lever 42 has bee moved to the left against stop pin I01 so that the push lever 4| is now in a'position to the right of the row of units [0. Latching lever 45 held the last unit from being dragged back by lever 4|.

the path of the units.

right.

Fig. 2, moving lever 42 all the way to its other depositing one of the units 10 on face |03 ofthe display sign, picking up another unit from the end of the group displayed onface I03 and:car-v rying it around to face I02, depositing-it there andthen picking up another unit, bringing it. around to face H13. This, cycle is repeated continuously, displaying in turn on the separate faces of the display device each of, the several display signs.

The sprocket chain tends to follow the sprocket wheel around at the point it leaves the wheel, tending to remove projection .|3 on conveyor element l2 from the channel of the conveyor unit This cycle of operation isrepeated,i

be. displaced inwardlywhile the conveyor element is passing this point. Likewise, Iprovide atrack I along the conveyor chain on the faces of the display device so as to prevent the chain from following around the wheel and removingthe'conveyor element |2 from units l0. Similar. tracks are provided at both ends of the system .anduon both faces thereof... Since the viewsillustrating. the apparatus are fragmentary,

l0? the tracks are not shown complete for the system. It 'will be understood, however, that the w device may be made entirely symmetrical. so

thatl'the front ,and rear faces of the "display device are exactly alike except forthe reversal of position: of the latching arrangements.

trip'latch arrangements related to opposite sides, this arrangement is not essential to the operation of the invention. It is clear that by changes in c the design of the levers they may extend into the j path of an element carried on conveyor chain I, 1

on the same face'upon which the display posters and push latch assembly is arranged. The as sembly-maybe'so arranged as to operate the latches and pawls during the passage of the carrier element about any suitable face of the.

display device. Furthermore, any suitable variation in the design of the elements utilized in the system can be readily worked out by those skilled in the art, as long as intermittently operated latching and push-pull mechanisms to advance the elements around the system sequentially are provided. For example thepick-up and tripping members need not be carried by the same part i of the conveyor chain but mayconstitute separate members spaced apartthereon. The essential featurepf this arrangement is that the re-,

lease of a unit and the pick-up of the unit for movement around the travel portion of its path be 1 properlytimed so that the unit will not be .per mittedto move out of alignment.

Independent meansmay likewise be used to =1 operate the 'pawl although it is preferable to have this pawl and the escapement latch inter lock sinceon its forward stroke the units in the i storageportion must be free to move. Moreover, it is clear that the. return of the escapement latch and the pawl-for advancing the units over the storage portion'o'f the path need not be operated by an element carried on the conveyor chain but therefrom.

rWhileIkhave described a particular embodiment' of my inventionwith reference to the accompanying drawings, this description is not to be considered as a, limitation upon the scope of my invention but merely as an "illustration thereof. What I consider as my invention and desire to protect is embodied in the accompanying claims. xWhat I claimis: i "l. A display device comprising a plurality of display -'carrying units, means forming a closed path including a storage portion and a travel portion about which said units are adapted to be advanced, a flexible conveyor element movable around" said travel portion of said path, stop means and a'pawl means extending into said path I for. restraining. the others. of said units within said storage portion,mmeans for causing said pick-up member to deposit said one carried unit in said storage portion adjacent said pawl, a tripping member on said conveyor element, means operative by said tripping member for removing said stop means from said pathandreleasing one 3 of said units, meansoperated by'releasing movement of said stop means for moving said pawl back of said deposited unit, means for causing said pick-up member to pick up said released unit in timedrelation with said units release, and means operative .to subsequentlyreturn said stop means in said path and advance said pawl to push said stored units forward against said stop.

2. A display display c rrying units, means forming a closed path including a storage portion and a'travel portion about which said units are adapted to be advanced, a flexible conveyor element movable about a closed circuit, a pick-up member on said conveyor element for carrying one of said units around said travel portion of said :path, stop means and a pawl means extending into said path for restraining the others of said units within said storage portion, means vfor causing saidepick-up member to deposit said one carried unit onsaid storage portion adjacent said pawLa tripping member on said conveyor eiement, means operative by said tripping member for removing said stop means from said path and releasing one of said units, means operated by releasing movement of said step means-for moving said pawl back of said deposited unit, means for causing said pickup member to pick vup said released unit in timed relation with said units release, and means operated by said tripping member to subsequently return said stop means into said path and advance said pawl to pushsaid, stored units forward against said stop means.

3. A display device comprising a plurality of display carrying units, means forming a closed path including a storage portion and a travel p0r-' tion about which said units are adapted to be advanced, a flexible conveyor element movable about a closed circuit, a pick-up member on said conveyor element for carrying one of saidfunits around said travel portion of said path, escapement means for restraining said units in said storage portion of said path, means causing said pick-up member to deposit said one unit in said storage portion of said path, a tripping member on said conveyor element, meansoperative by said tripping member for moving said. escapement m ans to release one of saidunits,,stop means operative in response to releasingoperation of said escapement means to hold the unit adjacent said released unit from movement, and means for causing said pick-up member to pick up said re-v leased unit in timed relation to said release for, movement abontsaid travel portion.

4. A. display device comprising-aiplurality of display carrying units, means forming a closed storage portion adjacent said pawl, auxiliary latching means for holding said deposited unit in position, a tripping member on said conveyor element, means operative by said tripping memdevice comprising a plurality of ber for'removing said stop means from said path and releasing one of said units, means operated by releasing movement-of said step means for movingfsaidlpawl back'of said deposited unit, means for causing said pick-upmember to pick up said released unit in timed relation with said units release, and means operative to subsequently returmsaid stop means intosaid path and ad- Vance said pawl to push'said stored units forward path for restraining the others of said units within said-storage portion, means for causing said pick-up member to deposit said one carried unit on said storage-portion adjacent said pawl, a tripping member on said conveyor element, means operative by said tripping member for removing said stop means from said path and releasing one of said units, means operated by releasing movement of said stop means for moving said pawl back of said deposited unit, holding means operative upon releasing movement'of said stop means for holding the next adjacent unit form movement, means for causing said pick-up member to pick ,up-said'released unit in timed relation with said units release, and means operative to subsequently return said stop means into said path,

release said holding means and advance said pawl to push said stored units forward against said i stop means.

6. A disply device comprising a plurality of display carrying units, means forming a closed path including a storage portion and a travel portion about which said units are adaptel to be advanced, a flexible conveyor element movable about a closed circuit, a pick-up member on said conveyor element for carrying one of said units around said travel portion of said path, stop means and a pawl means extending into said path for restraining the others of said units within said storage portion, means for causing said pick-up member to deposit said one carried unit on said storage portion adjacent said pawl, auxiliary latching means for holding said deposited unit in position, a tripping member on said conveyor I element, means operative by said tripping member for removing said stop means from said path and releasing one of said units, means operated by, releasing movement of said stop means for moving said pawl back of said deposited unit, holding means operative upon releasing movement of; said stop means for holding the next adjacent unit from movement, means for causing said pick-up member to pickup said released unit inv timed relation with said units release, and

means operative by said tripping member to subsequently return said stop means into said path, release said holding means and advance said pawl to push said stored; units forward against said stop.-

7, A display device comprising a plurality of display carrying units, means forming a closed path including a storage portion and a travel portion about which said units are adapted to be advanced, a flexible conveyor element movable about a closed circuit, a pick-up member on said conveyor element for carrying one of said ment means to release one ofisaid units, means units around said travel portion of said path, stop means and a pawl means extending into said path for restraining the others of said units within said storage portion, means for causing said pick-up member to deposit said one carried unit on said storage portion adjacent said pawl,

auxiliary latching means for holding said deposited unit in position, a tripping member on said conveyor element, means operative by said tripping member for removing said stop means from said path and releasing onefof said units,

means for moving said pawl back of said deposited unit, holding means operative upon releasing movement of said stop means for holding the next adjacent unit from movement, means for causing said picloup member to pickup said,

released unit in timed relation with said units release, andrneans operative to subsequently return said stop means into said path, release said holding means and advance said pawl to push said stored units forward against said stop in timed relation. v.

8. A display device comprising a plurality of display carrying units, means forming aclosed path including "a storage portion and a travel portion, about which said units areadapted to be advanced, a flexible conveyor elementmovable about a closed circuit, a pick-up member on said conveyor element for carrying oneof said units around saidtravel portion of said path, escapement means for restraining said units in said storage portion of said path, means causing said pick-up member to deposit said one unit in said storage portion of said path, a tripping-member on said conveyor element, means operative by said tripping member for moving said. escapesaid storage portions; e

for causing said pick-up member to pick up said 1,

released unitin timed relation to said release for movement about said travel portion, and guiding means arranged about said travel portion of said path for maintaining said pick-up member in co operating relation with said carried unit over straining said units in each of-said storage, pertions of saidpath, means for causing said pick-up 5 member to deposit said oneunit in one of said 'tions of said path, 'escapement'imeans .,for restorage portions of said path, a tripping member on said conveyor element, means operative, by said tripping member for movingsaid escapetorelease one of said units, stop means operative leasedunit from movement, means for causing said pick-up, member to pick updsaid released unit in timed relation to, said release for movemerit means adjacent said one storage portion e 25, in response to releasing operation of said escape ment means to hold the unit adjacent said rement about the succeeding travel portion, and to deposit it at thenext storage'portion forsuccessively depositing and removing units from each of r. v "s5 1 G BQE 

